Firearm frame and method of making same



Nov. 22, 1938. E. PUGSLEY 2,137,808

FIREARM FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME I Filed Jan. 13, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 0 wnv Puss; 5r.

. BY MW ATTORN EY Nov. 22, 1938. E. PUGSLEY FIREARM FRAME AND METHOD OFMAKING SAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1937 INVENTOR- Eoww PUGSLEY.

% BY ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1938. E. PUGSLEY FIREARM FRAME AND METHOD OFMAKING SAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 13, 1937 XNVENTOR Eow/N PUGSLEY.

BY M

ATTORNEY E. PUGSLEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 13, 1957 FIREARM FRAMEAND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Nov. 22, 1938.

Patented Nov. 22, 1938 FIREARM FRAME AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME EdwinPugsley, New Haven, Conn, assignor t Winchester Repeating Arms CompanyApplication January 13, 1937, Serial No. 120,334

8 Claims.

This invention relates generally to firearms and more particularly to anovel firearm frame structure and method of constructing the same.

In the manufacture of firearms, it has been customary to form the frameor receiver portion by forging or casting the same. Owing to thecomparatively irregular shape of the frame or receiver, the forging ofthis member is a relatively expensive operation, especially sinceseveral successive forging operations are usually necessary to form themember satisfactorily to the desired shape. Firearm frames and receivershave also been formed by casting, but these members when thus formedhave generally been found to contain blow holes and to be too brittlefor satisfactory use in firearms.

It is necessary that a firearm frame be sufiiciently strong and tough towithstand the numerous shocks due to firing of the gun and also shocksincident to rough handling. The frame or receiver should be formed ofsuch material that there is little tendency to crystallization by reasonof repeated shocks. At the same time, the frame or receiver should beformed of material havin a sufficiently hard surface to prevent unduewear on those surface portions which must be smooth and accuratelyfitted to permit proper functioning of the firearm. Owing to the severalconflicting requirements necessary in a satisfactory frame or receiver,it has generally been thought that this member could be formedsatisfactorily only by forging.

According to the present invention, the frame or receiver is formed froma blank or blanks of flat sheet or plate metal. The blank or blanks arecut or punched from a sheet or plate of suitable material, such as toolsteel, which has been formed by working or rolling metal to provide asheet or plate having the desired metallurgical and mechanicalcharacteristics. The blank is bent or folded to form an intermediateblank of generally trough shape and an arch portion is bent over aportion of the trough and seamed to the trough to form therewith atubular portion. If desired, the arch portion may be constituted by aseparate blank seamed to the trough-forming blank by welding or brazing,or it may be formed by an integral extension of the trough-formingblank. A breech-closing wall is provided by a breech-closing memberwhich is inserted into the intermediate blank and welded or brazedthereto so as to be integrally united therewith. Thereafter, theassembled intermediate blank and breech-closing member are suitablymachined to form a completed frame adapted to receive the remainingmembers of the. firearm, as for example, the cooking and firingmechanism, locking mechanism, butt stock, barrel assembly, etc.

An object of this invention is to provide a firearm having a strong,hard, shock-resisting and durable frame structure which can beeconomically manufactured and which is not excessively heavy.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following particular description and from an inspection of theaccompanying drawings.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a blank employed in forming a firearm inaccordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing a troughshaped intermediate blankformed by bending the blank of Fig. 1 bent to form a trough;

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevational view of the intermediate blank shown inFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a blank adapted to form an arch portion ofthe frame;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an arch member formed from theblank shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the arch member shown in Fig.5;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a pillar rivet for joining the troughmember and the arch member;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an assembled intermediate blankconstituted by the trough member, the arch member and the pillar rivet;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view taken along line9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 only showing the structure afterwelding the arch member to the trough member;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the intermediate blank afterhaving been subjected to a preliminary machining operation;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a breech-closing member having a ringof brazing material assembled therein;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional View in perspective of theintermediate blank having assembled therewith the breech-closing member;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a completed frame;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the structure shown inFig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary side elevational View partially in crosssection of a complete firearm formed in accordance with the inventioninclud ing a frame similar to that shown in Fig. 14; and

-Fig. 18 is a "transverse cross-sectional view :taken"'along line 18-48of Fig. 1?.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended tobe as generic in their application as the art will permit. Likereference characters denote like parts in the several figures of thedrawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification,certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes ofexplanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modifiedin various respects without departure from the broad aspect of theinvention.

The frame may be constructed of any suitable material which-issufficiently strong and tough to resist the shock of firing,sufficiently malleable to permit bending and to resist crystallizationand sufficiently hard to resist wear on accurately machined wearingsurfaces. Preferably, a medium carbon steel is used. One example of asteel which has been found to be satisfactory is that known as S. A. E.1020. Such steel has a composition as follows: Carbon .15-.25%,manganese .30-60%, phosphorous .045, sulphur .055.

This steel preferably is heat-treated in a molten salt bath at 1700 F.and quenched in oil to give a tensile strength of 18,000 pounds persquare inch, an elastic limit of 60,000 pounds per square inch,elongation of 20% and reduction of area of 20%. The steel is preferablyrolled into a flat sheet or plate of thickness ranging from around toinch. It has been found that steel of the above composition and aboutinch in thickness is satisfactory for forming the principal members ofthe frame.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is punched or cut from the metal plate, afiat trough-forming blank 10. The blank 10 is formed with atroughforming portion I l of generally rectangular shape and atube-forming portion 12 having inclined side edges 13 which mayterminate at their forward ends in shoulders 14. The rearward end edges15 of the tube-forming portion l2 are inclined as indicated in Fig. 1.

Extending rearwardly from the tube-forming portion I2 is an elongatedtang-forming portion 15 which may have a rounded end edge 11.

The blank 10 is subjected to a bending operation, which may be carriedout by suitable bending dies, which operation bends the blank 10 intothe form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to provide a trough member 20 havinggenerally parallelupstanding side walls 21 and a transversely arcuatebottom wall 22. At the same time, the tangforming portion I5 is bentlongitudinally into arcuate form to provide a rearwardly extending tang23.

Referring to Fig. 4, a second and arch-forming blank 25 is also cut orpunched from the plate material. The blank 25 includes an arch-formingportion 26 having an arcuate forward edge 21 and a straight rearwardedge 29. The side edges 28 of the blank may be inclined as shown. Theblank 25 also has the tang-forming portion 30 formed with an arcuaterear edge 3| which member corresponds generally to the tang-formingmember 16 of the blank H3.

The blank 25 is subjected to a bending operation which forms the blankinto an arch member 32 shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In forming the archmember, the portion 25 is bent transversely to provide an arch portion33 and the tang-forming portion 30 is arcuately bent longitudinally toprovide an upper tang 31.

Simultaneously with, or subsequent to, the bending of the arch 33, thetop wall thereof is upset to provide a flat surface 34 and an externalshoulder 35, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

The trough member 20 and the arch member 32 are assembled (see Fig. 8)so that the inclined edges 28 of the arch member 32 rest upon theinclined edges I3 of the trough member 20, the tangs 31 and 23 extendinggenerally parallel. Perforations 4| and 42 are drilled in the ends ofthe tangs 31 and 23 either before or after assembly of the arch member32 and trough member 20 and a pillar 38 (shown in detail in Fig. '1)having reduced ends 40 is inserted in the perforations 41 and 42. Theends of the pillar are riveted to secure the tangs 31 and 23 to thepillar and in spaced relation. This assembly may be designated as theintermediate blank 45.

Referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the edges 13 and 28 form agenerally V-shaped groove extending along the intermediate blank 45. Theedges [3 and 28 are seamed together as by welding or brazing, asindicated in Fig. 10, to rigidly and integrally connect the troughmember 20 and the arch member 32, the welding material, designated bythe reference character E3, filling the V-shaped groove.

The side walls 2! of the assembled blank 45 are machined, as shown inFig. 11, to provide arcuate surfaces 51 adjacent the upper edges whichconstitute a seat for a barrel, as will hereinafter appear. The tubeformed by the joining of the arch member and the rear portion of thetrough member is also machined to provide a generally conical seat 52for a section of a breech-closing member 55, shown in detail in Fig. 12.Preferably, the conical seat 52 is so formed as to provide at its innerend a seat 53 of substantial width. These operations may be carried outas steps of a single machine operation.

A breech-closing member or plug 55 (Fig. 12) preferably is formed as adisc having a tapered or conical side wall 56 adapted to fit snugly inthe seat 52. The side wall 56 is provided with a groove 51 adapted toreceive a ring 58 of brazing material, such as copper. Preferably, thering 58 extends only partially around the periphery of thebreech-closing member 55 and it may terminate just beyond the ends ofthe shoulder The breech-closing member or plug 55, together with theinserted ring 58 is inserted in the seat 52 of the blank 50, as shown inFig. 13. The assembled blank and plug are then brazed by subjecting themto a temperature of preferably around 2100 F. in a protective gaseousatmosphere. Preferably, the atmosphere contains from 5 to 30% of one ormore reducing components, such as hydrogen or carbon monoxide, etc., andthe remainder components, which are inert as to the brazing material,such as nitro- ..2,1s7,sos

ception of the other firearm mechanisms, such as the cocking and firingmechanism, locking mechanism, butt stock, etc. For the purposes ofillustration, these machining operations are described hereinafter inconnection with the assembly of the several firearm mechanisms onthe'frame. It will be understood that these operations will usually allbe completed before any associated members are assembled with the frame.The completed, drilled and machined frame BI is shown in Figs. 14 and15, as it appears before assembly with the associated members.

The frame blank 60 is drilled at its forward end as at 64 and a pivot orfulcrum pin 63 is inserted between the side walls 2| and is formed withan integral rivet-like extension 64a which is headed-over as at 65 intoa conical recess 65a formed in the outer face of the adjacent side wallof the frame blank 60 (Fig. 14) The pivot pin 63 is provided with anarcuate rearwardly facing groove 66, the function of which willhereinafter be described.

The breech-closing member 55 forming a standing breech-block is drilledto provide a central passage I0 for a firing pin or plunger I! having atapered firing point '?2. The rearward end of the firing pin II isformed as a clevis I3 connected by a pin or screw 14 to a cooking leverI5. An elongated slot I6 is cut in the lower tang 23 to accommodate thecooking lever I5 which is pivotally mounted on a pin TI. The upper tang3! is formed with an elongated slot 84 through which extends the head I8of the cocking lever I5. Threaded into counter-bored opening in uppertang 31 is a guide pin or stud I9 which extends through a slot in thefiring pin 'II and serves as an abutment for a firing pin spring 8|surrounding the firing pin and abutting a thrust pin 85 set in theforward end of the shank of the firing pin II.

The cocking lever I5 is formed with a cooking notch 83 and a reboundnotch 82 which cooperate with a cooking nose 92 on a trigger 90. Thetrigger extends through the slot I6 and is pivotally mounted on a pinill. The trigger 90 has an arcuate finger piece 93 which is protected bya trigger guard 94 secured to the lower tang 23 by screws (not shown)threaded into screw holes 9! and 98.

The trigger 90 is provided with a recess 99 which receives a plungerI00, the other end of which conveniently enters a recess I03 in a barrellocking member or bolt I I0. Surrounding the plunger I00 is a spring IOIwhich bears at one end against a shoulder I02 on the plunger and at theother end against the locking bolt I I 0.

The locking bolt H0 is pivotally mounted on a transversely extending pinIII secured in the frame GI and has a locking nose II2 adapted to entera correspondingly formed locking notch I50 in a barrel locking lug MI.The locking bolt III] is formed with an eccentrically disposed lug H3adapted to enter a transverse slot II4. in an operatinghead H5. Theoperating head II5 is rotatable ina perforation II6 formed by drillingthrough the top wall of the frame arch and into the breech block 55.

Rigidly secured to the operating head! I5 is a top lever or cookinglever I I9 having a head portion I20 guided in an arcuate recess II8formed in the arch portion of the frame 6|. The top lever H9 is formedwith a conveniently shaped finger piece I 2I for rocking the top leverII 9 about the operating head II5 as a pivot; a shoulder II? is providedand is adapted to abut against a stop shoulder Illa. on the frame forlimiting the movement of the top lever I I9.

The operating head II5 may be secured by a leaf spring I26 secured tothe frame by a screw I21 extending through a threaded opening I28. Theend of the spring I26 extends into a slot I25 in the operating head H5and thus prevents removal from the frame.

A butt stock I 3'! may be secured to the frame 6I by a bolt I36 screwedinto a threaded opening I35 in the pillar 38.

A barrel assembly I39 may include a barrel I40 having a barrel lockinglug I4I formed with a forwardly facing arcuate recess I42 adapted toengage over the rear side of the pivot pin 63. The barrel I40, when inposition, abuts and is closed by the breech block 55 and the barrel lugMI is disposed in the space below the barrel I40 and between the sidewalls 2I of the frame 6I.- An extractor and ejector mechanism, such asthat disclosed and claimed in the copending application of George S.Lewis, Serial No. 5417, filed February 7, 1935, may be housed in thebarrel lug. The extractor and ejector mechanism may have an operatingnose I43 cooperating with the laogttom wall of the groove 66 in thefulcrum pin The barrel assembly I39 may include also a forestock I45 andforestock shoe I46 which are attached to the barrel in a manner notnecessarily shown herein. The forestock shoe has a bearing portion I41formed with an arcuate notch E46 bearing against the fulcrum pin 63 anda transversely curved abutment face I49 substantially conforming incurvature to the transverse curvature of the bottom wall 22 of the frameblank.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the arcuate surfaces 5| of the side walls 2Iserve as a seat for the rearward portion of the barrel I39 when thebarrel is in firing position, as shown in Fig. 17. For the purpose ofobtaining access to the breech end of the barrel for loading the gun orejecting cartridges or empty cartidge cases, the barrel may be rockedabout the pivot pin 63 whereby to expose the breech end of the barrel.This rocking movement may be limited by the striking of the abutmentface I49 of the forestock shoe I46 against the bottom wall or floor 22of the frame 6|. In order to permit this rocking movement, the forwardends of the seats 5I may be cut away to provide an inclined seat portion62, as shown in Fig. 15.

A sight groove I50, serving as a rear sight, may be cut in the forwardportion of the frame arch 33.

It is to be understood that the general method disclosed herein may beemployed in forming types of frames other than the illustrative formdisclosed. For example, this general concept may be embodied in a framesuch as is shown in my copending application, Serial No. 5421, filedFebruary '7, 1935, and in the several types of frames shown in mycopending application, Serial No. 45,396, filed October 17, 1935,'ofwhich applications the present application is in part a continuation.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed andare pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood thatvarious omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a firearm of the stationary breech-block type and wherein thebarrel unit and the butt unit are relatively movable for loading, aframe formed from plate metal of substantially uniform thickness bent upto form barrel unit attaching, lock attaching, firing mechanismattaching, and butt stock attaching portions, and a breech-closingportion integrally united with said bent plate member.

2. In a firearm, a frame comprising a bent metal plate constituting aframe member, and a separately formed member seated within said bentplate for forming a breech-closing wall, said separately formed memberbeing in abutment with the plate over a substantial area, and integrallyjoined to said plate throughout a substantial portion of the area ofabutment.

3. In a firearm, a frame comprising a plurality of separately formedmembers, at least one of which is formed by bending upand joining platemetal to constitute barrel attaching, butt stock attaching, lockattaching, and firing mechanism attaching portions, respectively, andanother of which members constitutes a breech-closing portion, saidmembers being in abutment with each other over a substantial area andintegrally joined over asubstantial portion of the area of abutment.

4, A firearm frame comprising a plate metal member, having portions forattaching a barrel unit, and a butt stock unit, respectively, and asecond member substantially embraced by said first member and integrallyunited therewith said members having adjacent surface portions lyingsubstantially in the same plane and together forming a breech-closingwall.

5. In the method of forming a firearm frame, the steps which includebending up the sides of a fiat blank of metal to form an upwardly opentrough, fusing to said trough an arch member to form a tubular portion,machining a seat in said tubular portion, inserting a breech-blockmember in said tubular seat and fusing said breech-block member to saidtubular portion to form a breech closing wall.

6. In the method of f'orminga firearm fram the steps which includepunching, from a metal plate, a flat blank having trough-forming,tubeforming and tang-forming portions, bending the blank laterally toform a trough, then bending the blank longitudinally to arch saidtang-forming portion, fusing an arch shaped tang-carrying member to saidtube-forming portion to form a tube and fusing a breech-block member tosaid tube.

'7. In a method of forming a firearm frame, the steps which includebending a metal plate to form an essentially trough-shaped member,welding a tang-carrying member to said troughshaped member to form atube therewith, inserting a breech closing member in said tube, andbrazing said breech closing member to said tube at an internal surfaceof said tube.

8. The method of forming a firearm frame having a frame shell and aninserted breech block, said process comprising the steps of cutting ablank from metal plate, bending said blank to form a frame shell memberhaving a troughshaped portion, fusing a tang member to saidtrough-shaped portion to form a tubular portion, machining the sides andtop of said tubular portion to form a seat, grooving the edge of acircular breech block, applying a wire of bonding metal to that part ofsaid groove which is adapted to rest in said seat, heating the assembledframe shell and breech block to a temperature of around2l00 F., in aprotective gaseous atmosphere to melt the wire bonding material and tocause it to penetrate between the surface of said breech block and saidseat, whereby said frame shell and said breech block are rigidly united.

EDWIN PUGSLEY.

